The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-11

bombshells and boomeraugs that may
recoil, explode and destroy more in
its own ranks than those OF the
enemy. The Executive Committee
of the Democratic party, IN justice to
the cause, would do well to repudi-
ate this presumptuous aud pnauthor.
lied publication of its doctrines and
attitude toward the me, women and
children of the State, and the Meth
odist church in particular" BY the
way, the address of Mr.. Vertrees,
the ablest | have yet seen on the
prohibition side, opens on the FIRST
page with discovery OF a bluuder,
overlooked by the advocates Of pro-
hibition," and that blunder, in his
opinion fatal to the efficacy of the
amendment, is the failure to embody
in the probibitory article clause
fixing n penalty.
Now, Mr.. Vertrees is a lawyer and
| am not, yet | will venture the as
sertion that there is not in any arti.
Gle in the Constitution of the United
States or that of Tennessee single
clause fixing a penalty for an ofiense
prohibited. Such is not the legal or
Gus tomary mode of enforcing an or.
ganic law. But the clause in the
amendment which RENTS enforce.
ment, or penalties if you please, TO
the General Assembly is regular aud
mandatory, aud all sufficient to in
sure such legislative enactments as
shall be found necessary to its en-
forcement.
1t is my purpose to consider sew
eral other objections to prohibition.
such as its impracticability, its in
consistency with Bible teachings, its
injustice TO saloonkeepers, liquor
merchants and manufactures, and
loss Of revenue. But time will al
low only brief and cursory notice OF
these. Among these two only are
worthy Of consideration. That the
cause OF temperance is violatlye OF
Bible teachings and the spirit and
mission of Christian religion no sane
man can believe. AS TO the matter
OF pecuniary damage to persons en-
gagged in its sale and manufacture, II
must be admitted that all the equi
ties of the situation ought TO be con.
sidered. All the legal rights involved
may be secured through the courts,
and while the proposed amendment
prohibits, il does not confscate, II
does not destroy, it does not prevent
transportation OF property out OF tho
State, and il does not prevent ad
justmeut Of losses or compensation
therefor ia any tribunal in the STATE
open to any other creditor or com
plaiuant.
For one I would favor fair com.
pen sation for any actual loss directl
produced by the necessary operation
Of prohibitory law.
But suppose, as is very plausibly
argued by anti prohihitionists, that
the amendment will be prac'
tically inoperative-that "prohibi'
ton will not prohibit'-then there
will be no losses TO adjust-none e
be claimed-but, per contra, the
measure Of increased profit to liguoI
dealers and manufacturers will b
the a mount now paid by them fol
the privilege. But liquor dealers d,
not aeree with Mr., Vertroes that th,
amendment will be imperative, anC
therefore they are urging its delea
with an energy aud unanimity unpre
exampled in the history oil Stat
elections 10 Tennessee.
They know that the four mile law
has closed half Of the saloons in The
State, and they believe very reason
biz that when a mere statute, enact
ed by a Legislature in public sympl'
thy with the people, aud that statute
largely aud justly unpopular on &C
count Of lie unequal bearing upor
different sections, has accomplish,
40 much in the direction OF prohibi
ton, then when, by the authority o
minority OF the qualified voters o
| the State, a prohibitory Law is incor
pora.ed in the constitut on, aud til
| law embraces n mandatory claus,
which says, The General Assembl!
shall by law prescribe regulations 70
It's enforcement. providing suitabl,
penalty etc, they must believe
yes. know-that tho amendment pro
posed means business; that 20 sol
emn an enactment, emanating di
reclly from the people and arme,
with tho dignity aud authority Of al
organic law, will finish the work q
prohibition now halt accomplishou
| by that feeble statute known as Oh
four mile law.
! Now We will suppose tho amend
ment adopted, laws Tor is enforce
meut cnac ed and the suppre sion d
the sale OF intoxicating liquors aC
complishcd. What appalling cilami
~ msy We expect TO accompany
all2 Without attempting 20 o.
large, | will state the very reason
ably probable result:
Pirst-Thcrc will be a loss Of re-,
cnue ~ the State from privileges ,
about $1,000 per annum.
Sccond-There will be- a reluctio
OF State expenses 10 the item ,
court costs Of about 100000, lea,
log a net loss Of State revenue q
licenses Of about $780, 900, an amour
, which would increase our annu
taxer, using approximate figures,
, follows State valuation, t2OO,OOO
: 600. taxation. 100000, S2O,O00,0l
. valuation, S20, 900; e. 10000 yalu
! ton tax, 5000; 100000 yaluatio
. tax. flO0; ego. 600 valuation, tax ~
4. 5000 valuation, tax, 81 $1,000 ~
: undor valuation, tax nothing. No
' adjust this table oil rates 10 oaC
!, case, aud answer upon your CO.
science, should you, will you p
c the paltry cost 10 yourself OF su
4 preston Of the great evil OF inter
!. perancc In Tennessee.
!, rhird-Tboro will be-, II the losses
J. tho liquor dealers aud manufacture
be reimbursed, a triiling amount y
|. easy 10 estimate TO be paid on III
!. score. But the legislature mu
J. meet and pat prohibition In Tor
I before there can DO hnal disfupii
}, OF the liquor business. This will :
, Ii. tt,n,-ahYut two wars | Won